10 Best Fall Hunting Boots

Best Fall Hunting Boots in 2023

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Where is the Beef? Going Contaminant Hunting in Your (or Your Grocer's) Freezer

If you have been wondering if you should take the advice of your doctor and forsake the beef for poultry, you might have just received the little nudge that could convince you.

At issue are a staggering 14,800 pounds of the ground up cattle that is being sold under the name American Fresh Foods - a company behind which stands Fort Worth's Texas American Food Service Corporation. What makes the alert interesting is the fact that the matter did not come to light until the company reported missing a trailer containing the contaminated beef.

The Star Telegram released a piece today which warns consumers of purchasing meat at roadside stands, in parking lots, and other dubious sales venues, no matter how good the deals offered might be. American Fresh Foods has opened a consumer hotline where those who believe to have purchased some of that tainted meat may call to inquire about returns. The number is 1-800-724-1136.

As Texans are warned to steer clear of this tainted beef, it is noteworthy that this recall is following on the heels of another USDA warning that originated on Christmas Day, when New York's Maramont Corporation recalled 88 pounds of ground beef patties due to listeria pollution. It is important to note that this recall affects schools in Jersey City, NJ where the meat was sold to be offered to school children as part of the local area school lunch programs. Concerned consumers should contact Maramont directly at 718-439-8900.

The patties themselves were sold to the schools on December 18th and 19th, thus falling just before the federal Christmas holiday vacations for most students. The odds of some of the tainted beef still lingering in freezers is better than average, and cafeteria managers in Jersey City will be wise to check their supplies!

What makes listeria caused illness so insidious is the fact that that it has a wide ranging incubation time. Some children may report problems within three days of ingesting the tainted meat while others may go as long as two months before showing signs of illness.

As if the Texas and New Jersey ground beef problems were not sufficient for the consumer, consider the 12-20-07 USDA news release that warns of a significant batch of salmonella infected ground beef having been sold by Safeway Corporation in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and the state of New Mexico in the time frame dating from 09-19 to 11-05. There is no lot number associated with this batch of meat, but if you purchased ground meat at a Safeway store in between those dates and still have some in your freezer, it may be wise to toss it out.

This particular strain of bacteria, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service sources, is resistant to treatment and as of 12-12-07, 14 people in Arizona alone have presented with illness directly related to this incident, the Arizona Republic reports.

Granted, the American food supply is probably as safe as it will ever be, yet the watchful consumer will do well to ensure that she or he is not caught unawares! To this end, check in with the Food Safety and Inspection Service's automated Ask Karen program which is a virtual representative who will answer your questions with respect to recalls, meat problems and other food safety issues; in addition, it also may not be a bad idea to sign up for the email alert program which will ensure that you know about recalls as they happen.